Windows Firewall vs. Antivirus Protection: How Are They Different?

When you are using the Windows operating system it comes with a firewall preinstalled when you purchase your PC. The purpose of Windows Firewall is it helps to protect your PC from hackers who attempt to gain access to your PC when you browse the Internet. At the same token, all antivirus programs claim to do the same thing so, what is the difference between the firewall in Windows and an antivirus program and why do you need both?

The answer is that there is a difference and yes, you do need both programs to provide the proper amount of protection for your PC in addition to an anti-malware program. Here is why:

Windows Firewall Defined

Windows Firewall comes preinstalled in your operating system and protects your PC by monitoring the flow of both inbound and outbound traffic. The firewall program is located in the Security Center inside the Control Panel and works on a predefined set of rules you create for allowing traffic to enter and exit your PC.

For example, if you install a program or download antivirus software you may be required to configure the Windows Firewall to accept the installation or download. Once you configure these settings you can change them at any time and as you see fit. The firewall will continue to monitor the traffic coming in and out of your PC and alert you when it finds a suspicious information packet.

Antivirus Protection

It is important to keep in mind that you must have a firewall activated even if you have the best virus protection installed. Although Windows Firewall provides some protection for your PC it is not 100 percent foolproof and cannot defend your PC against savvy programmers that inhabit the Internet.

When you download antivirus software this will provide you with the extra protection you need in addition to keeping Windows Firewall activated with predefined rules. This is because there are malicious programs that can easily make their way past a firewall despite the fact you have rules in place. Adding the best virus protection is worth the investment since Windows Firewall can only protect your PC to a certain point.

Windows Firewall is Only One Piece to the Puzzle

Deploying a firewall is only your first defense for protecting your PC. In the age of savvy programmers and increased malicious activity, it is necessary to use layered protection. If one malicious file slips by Windows Firewall another program such as your antivirus download will catch and destroy the malicious program. Most antivirus programs will also protect you during your surfing activity by warning you of malicious activity on a website before you click. A firewall program will not do this while you are browsing the Internet.

So, as a primary rule of thumb, Windows Firewall should only be one part of your overall protection strategy for your PC. You should download antivirus software and make it part of your security arsenal in addition to activating Windows Firewall to provide the best virus protection for your PC. Add an anti-malware program to the mix and update the definitions on a regular basis and you should be good to go.

Antispyware Helps Combat Challenges Presented By Spyware Programs.

Due to the increased number of malicious programs that hide out on the Internet on a daily basis, the use of antispyware programs has increased over the last few years.  More people are connecting to the Internet which unfortunately means a greater number of threats to your PC in the form of malware also known as spyware.

If you have recently deployed an antivirus program or anti virus gratis software you have another step to take to ensure your PC is protected against spyware.  On the other hand, if your antivirus application also offers antispyware then chances are you have the comprehensive protection necessary to guard your PC against threats while you browse the Internet.  If you do not have this type of protection, here is an overview that will help you to understand some of the challenges presented by spyware and why an antispyware program is essential.

Spyware Challenges

Spyware requires a special proactive method for discovery due to the fact this type of malicious software can hide deep in the registry of your PC and mimic other legitimate programs in an effort to go undetected by you or your antivirus program.  Once spyware is installed on your PC it can do a lot of damage depending upon what the intent is of the program.

Unlike viruses that tend to be comprised of only one .exe file which may affect only a few registry keys, spyware can potentially leave multiple .exe files which are distributed throughout the registry.  More often than not, the registry entries look like legitimate programs on your PC however; if you look closer the entry may have one letter missing or at least have a spelling which is close to the legitimate program.  This is why a proactive approach must be taken to remove the many files created by spyware to ensure they do not replicate.

The typical antivirus program or anti virus gratis software may not be enough to completely remove spyware from your PC unless is has an antispyware program included with it.  Because spyware can be more problematic than a virus it is necessary to make sure you install a proactive program in addition to your regular antivirus protection program.

Symptoms of Spyware

If you do not have an antispyware program installed some of the signs that spyware may be present is a slow Internet connection, your antivirus or anti virus gratis program is disabled, or there are unexplained events occurring on your PC such as changes in your Desktop or home page of your Web browser.  Since spyware is capable of spreading throughout your PC it draws on the resources of your PC which results in slow Internet and PC performance.

How Antispyware Can Help

Antispyware is designed for spyware that attempts to hide its presence in your PC.  This type of protective software is proactive making it suitable for spyware programs that have properties which are entirely different from a virus.  Because spyware will attach itself to many different files in your PC it makes it very difficult to remove.  Reputable antispyware programs are created by experts that have accomplished knowledge of how spyware works so they can design software that is capable of removing complex spyware that gets entangled in the files of your PC.  For this reason, you should avoid using just any program you happen to come across and instead invest the time to find a quality antispyware program.

The Difference Between Antivirus and Anti-Spyware: Why Install Both?

There are many PC users that install an antivirus program and then think their PC is protected. Unfortunately this is not the case as you must also deploy an anti spyware program to ensure your PC is protected in the best way possible. This is because viruses are different from spyware.  If you have an antivirus program installed, spyware can still bypass it and vice versa which is why both types of software are necessary.  Here is why:

Viruses vs. Spyware

Viruses and spyware are two different types of malicious programs. A virus enters your PC by opening email attachments or transferring files from another PC, storage device or file sharing program. Viruses will spread though out your PC, delete files, and even email themselves to contacts you have stored in your PC.

Spyware typically enters your PC without your knowledge as a result of your activity when browsing the Internet. Spyware can be downloaded by clicking on website links, going to questionable sites that are infected, downloading free software or by simply clicking on a pop-up advertisement.  The malicious program is then downloaded onto your PC where it spies on all of your computing activity including tracking your passwords through keystrokes and accessing your personal files and information.

Another difference between a virus and spyware is that spyware is designed to hide in your PC since the motivation for installing the spyware is financially driven.  A virus can be more easily identified so antivirus software is designed differently than anti-spyware programs.

If you are asking yourself, “How can I speed up my PC?” or you are experiencing slow PC performance your computer may have picked up a virus or spyware program. When it runs quietly in the background it uses up CPU (Central Processing Unit) resources which in turn, will compromise PC performance.

Anti-Spyware Software

In addition to viruses and spyware entering your PC under different circumstances these two types of malicious programs are coded differently by programmers.  For this reason, they require two separate applications to keep your PC protected.

You can obtain anti spyware software separately but the good news is that more virus protection programs are including anti-spyware protection with the antivirus program which provides comprehensive security for your PC by installing one program.

Whether you use a separate anti spyware program or you have an antivirus program that includes spyware protection, it is extremely important to have both programs installed on your PC. Spyware is difficult to detect and after you remove the program some spyware is capable of replicating itself the next time you boot up your PC.  The motivation for creating spyware is typically to steal financial assets where virus programs are more mischievous with the motivation being more to test programming skills at the expense of others by bringing down servers and creating annoyances to PC users and their contacts.

So, regardless of what some may say, it is essential to provide ample protection for your PC by deploying both antivirus and anti spyware protection simultaneously.

Essentials You Should Know About Virus Protection.

There is one thing everyone should know about virus protection and that is you should never be without it.  A quality security program that protects you from having to replace your entire PC due to a virus attack is worth its weight in gold.  If you think your PC is protected simply because there is security software preinstalled when you purchased your PC you may want to think twice.

The quality of a virus protection program is of vital importance to how much security is provided. Plus the program you have installed will only be as effective as the last time that the virus definitions were updated. So what are some of the essentials you should know about virus protection and why is it important when you browse the Internet.

PC Performance

The performance of your computer will determine what type of experience you have while browsing the Internet and doing normal computing tasks.  PC speed and efficient performance is important to getting things done faster and it can be very frustrating if you are dealing with a slow computer.

A virus protection program such as gratis antivirus or other software is an essential part of keeping your PC in tip top shape.  If your PC is clean it will run just as good as the day you purchased it.  Using protection software in addition to performing other maintenance tasks will keep your PC safe and reduce the chances of damage which could require you to replace your computer.

Vulnerabilities

Vulnerabilities are weaknesses in software programs that hackers can take advantage of to gain access to your PC and virus protection software is no exception.  Although the software is tested before it is released on the market, the fact remains that all types of software programs still have undiscovered vulnerabilities when they are released for sale.

Vulnerabilities make your PC susceptible to viruses and malware when you browse the Internet.  For this reason, it is important to update your antivirus or gratis antivirus program with the latest definitions to date.  All programs have an update feature that you can activate to automatically install the latest definitions. 

It is also important to keep in mind that any software you have on your PC should be updated on a regular basis since the updates will contain the latest patches for vulnerabilities which were discovered after the product hit the marketplace.  Vulnerabilities cannot only affect PC speed they can also provide hackers with access to your computer.

Malicious Software

Using a quality virus protection program and keeping all other software on your PC updated will help provide protection against malicious software downloads.  When you browse the Internet hackers can find vulnerabilities in your antivirus or gratis antivirus software as well as other software applications on your PC.  Without your knowledge they can install malicious software which is capable of spying on all of your PC activity including every keystroke you take.  For this reason a quality virus protection program is essential in protecting your identity and your privacy.

Finally, it is important to remember that even the best virus protection software will not keep your PC and personal data safe if you do not deploy and use it correctly.  The updates should be easy to accomplish and the program should be able to run without incident.  Regardless if you choose a paid antivirus program or gratis antivirus the same rule should apply to the program.  Invest the time to get a quality virus protection program as it will pay off in the long term.